Lactobacillus plantarum TW1-1 Alleviates Diethylhexylphthalate-Induced Testicular Damage in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Decreasing Inflammation

2019-06-26
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 9
- Xiao-zhu Tian
- Zhengsheng Yu
- P. Feng
- Ze Ye
- Rong Li
- Juyuan Liu
- Jun-ping Hu
- Apurva Kakade
- Pu Liu
- Xiangkai Li

PubMed: 31297340
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00221

Study Design

Type: Clinical Trial
Population: Adult male mice
Methods: In vivo experiment with oral supplementation in mice.

Animal Study

Abstract

Diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), acting as an endocrine disruptor, disturbed reproductive health. Here, we evaluated the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum TW1-1 (L. plantarum TW1-1) on DEHP-induced testicular damage in adult male mice. Results showed that oral supplementation of L. plantarum TW1-1 significantly increased the serum testosterone concentration, enhanced the semen quality, and attenuated gonad development defects in DEHP-exposed mice. L. plantarum TW1-1 also alleviated DEHP-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses by decreasing the mRNA expression and serum protein concentration of different inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6]. Furthermore, L. plantarum TW1-1 significantly reduced DEHP-induced intestinal hyper-permeability and the increase in the serum lipopolysaccharide level. Gut microbiota diversity analysis revealed that L. plantarum TW1-1 shifted the DEHP-disrupted gut microbiota to that of the control mice. At phylum level, L. plantarum TW1-1 reversed DEHP-induced Bacteroidetes increase and Firmicutes decrease, and restored Deferribacteres in DEHP-exposed mice. Spearman's correlation analysis showed that Bacteroidetes, Deferribacteres, and Firmicutes were associated with DEHP-induced testicular damage. In addition, the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (Firm/Bac ratio) significantly decreased from 0.28 (control group) to 0.13 (DEHP-exposed group), which was restored by L. plantarum TW1-1 treatment. Correlation analysis showed that the Firm/Bac ratio was negatively correlated with testicular damage and inflammation. These findings suggest that L. plantarum TW1-1 prevents DEHP-induced testicular damage via modulating gut microbiota and decreasing inflammation.

Keywords: Lactobacillus plantarum TW1-1; diethylhexylphthalate toxicity; gut microbiota; inflammatory response; intestinal permeability; oxidative stress.

Research Insights

Lactobacillus plantarum KABP-061→Improved Semen Quality
oral supplementation of L. plantarum TW1-1... enhanced the semen quality
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus plantarum KABP-061→Increased Serum Testosterone Levels
oral supplementation of L. plantarum TW1-1 significantly increased the serum testosterone concentration
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus plantarum KABP-061→Reduced Gonadal Development Defects
oral supplementation of L. plantarum TW1-1... attenuated gonad development defects in DEHP-exposed mice
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus plantarum KABP-061→Reduced Hepatic Oxidative Stress
L. plantarum TW1-1 also alleviated DEHP-induced oxidative stress
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus plantarum KABP-061→Reduced Inflammatory Response
L. plantarum TW1-1 also alleviated DEHP-induced... inflammatory responses by decreasing the mRNA expression and serum protein concentration of different inflammatory factors
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus plantarum KABP-061→Reduced Intestinal Hyperpermeability
L. plantarum TW1-1 significantly reduced DEHP-induced intestinal hyper-permeability
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus plantarum UALp-05M→Improved Gut Microbiota Diversity
Gut microbiota diversity analysis revealed that L. plantarum TW1-1 shifted the DEHP-disrupted gut microbiota to that of the control mice
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Lactobacillus plantarum UALp-05M→Improved Semen Quality
oral supplementation of L. plantarum TW1-1... enhanced the semen quality
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus plantarum UALp-05M→Increased Serum Testosterone Levels
oral supplementation of L. plantarum TW1-1 significantly increased the serum testosterone concentration
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus plantarum UALp-05M→Reduced Gonadal Development Defects
oral supplementation of L. plantarum TW1-1... attenuated gonad development defects in DEHP-exposed mice
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus plantarum UALp-05M→Reduced Hepatic Oxidative Stress
L. plantarum TW1-1 also alleviated DEHP-induced oxidative stress
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus plantarum UALp-05M→Reduced Inflammatory Response
L. plantarum TW1-1 also alleviated DEHP-induced... inflammatory responses by decreasing the mRNA expression and serum protein concentration of different inflammatory factors
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus plantarum UALp-05M→Reduced Intestinal Hyperpermeability
L. plantarum TW1-1 significantly reduced DEHP-induced intestinal hyper-permeability
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate